Alice Eldora McLaughlin Wharff (1861 - 1943)

MCLAUGHLIN, WHARFF, FOUTCH, CHUMBLEY, FELTON, CONRAD, ALLEN, WICKETT, ALDRIDGE, GEHRINGER, SMITH, BASS, BAKER

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 10/21/2018 at 15:42:42

The Osceola Tribune, Osceola, Iowa
February 23, 1943, Page 8

Mrs. W. H. Wharff

Alice Eldora McLaughlin, second child of Hiram and Mary McLaughlin, was born in Clarke county, Iowa, Dec. 28, 1861 and departed this life at her home at New Virginia, Iowa, Feb. 9th, 1943, aged 81 years, 1 month and 11 days.

She was united in marriage with William H. Wharff in Clarke county, Iowa on Feb. 12, 1880 and to this union were born nine children. Mrs. Wharff's death being the first in this large family.

All her life, but two years spent in Nebraska, was lived in Clarke and Warren counties. From the beginning of the Civil War to World War No. II, from oxcart to corduroy roads to airplanes and rocket trains, from small log school houses on the prairie to modern consolidated schools, from primitive homes to modern houses which to these older people must seem almost like mansions. All this in one life's span possible only in a land like America.

Mrs. Wharff often spoke of the early years of her life with many hardships and trials. She recalled seeing the soldiers in blue return to their homes; then the men of the Spanish American War, the the First World War and in these later months often wondered if she would be able to greet any who had fought in the present war. So it is that our pioneer mothers who toiled and sacrificed for their loved ones, live, work and by and by, fold their hands over a task well done.

Many things might be said of Mrs. Wharff. To her friends and neighbors probably the most outstanding characteristics were her love of little children and the kindly words she always spoke to them and her sincere hospitality. Always she desired her friends to eat a bite with her and it was her delight throughout her life to share what she had with those who had less than she. No one went from her door hungry.

Mrs. Wharff was a member of the Christian church, having united with it in 1914, and remained a lively member until her death. When the minister called she always wanted the old songs sung, and often joined in with her own trembling voice. Always her comment was, "that was nice, yes that was nice."

Besides her husband, William Wharff, she leaves to mourn her passing her nine children; Mrs. Florence Foutch, of Marseilles, Ill., Mrs. Ethel Chumbley, Liberty, Ia., Mrs. Mary Felton, Newton, Iowa, Mrs. Conrad and Earl Wharff of Newton, Iowa, Mrs. Hazel Allen and Mrs. Stella Wickett, of New Virginia and Mrs. Grace Aldridge of Newton, Iowa. She also reared one granddaughter, Mrs. Mae Gehringer, of Mohall, N. Dak. Also she is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Susan Smith of Cromwell, Iowa, Mrs. Minnie Bass, of Derby, Iowa, and Mrs Anna Baker of Derby, Iowa, and two brothers, George McLaughlin of Cromwell, Iowa, and Marion McLaughlin of Osceola, Iowa. She has 40 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren.

Mrs. Wharff has seven grandsons serving in the armed forces of the United States.

Funeral services were held from the New Virginia Methodist church at two o'clock on Friday afternoon, Feb. 12th, conducted by Rev. E. E. Stringfellow, of Des Moines, with burial in the New Virginia cemetery.